Fishing Lure Imitating a Bird

ABSTRACT

A fishing lure imitating a bird has a body having a central long axis with equal longitudinal buoyancy, a set of two simulated eyes, groups of buoyant flexible strands each joined at one end to the body simulating extended bird wings, and a hook element disposed longitudinally through the cylindrical body with a shank extending rearward in the body along the long axis, the shank exiting the body in an upward-facing lengthwise recess, then bending forward to present a hook point.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS

The present application is a divisional application of and claimspriority to U.S. Ser. No. 13/333,590, filed Dec. 21, 2011, which claimspriority to provisional patent application No. 61/458,541, filed on Jan.13, 2011 and provisional patent application No. 61/515,142 filed Aug. 4,2011. All disclosure of the parent applications are incorporated hereinat least by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the field of fishing lures and accessoriesand pertains particularly to lures made to imitate winged prey.

2. Discussion of the State of the Art

In the art of fishing, more particularly cast fishing, many differenttypes of top water lures have been developed for cast fishing nearstructure along the shoreline of any particular body of water. Top waterlures include hard, solid body type and soft, hollow body type luresadapted to imitate some form of natural prey the fish typically oratypically feeds upon.

One problem with traditional top water lures is that they are difficultto fish in heavy brush, stumps, lily pads, or tulle areas typicallyprized by anglers due to the ambush nature of many fish species. Manylures with single, double, or treble hook attachments become snagged onsuch cover or drag pieces of grass, twigs, etc. when retrieved.

Current soft body floating lures such as frogs, rats, and mice forexample, get snagged because the body is too soft enabling casualcontact with an object to expose the hook points. Most of these softbody lures also sink after a short time in the water.

Another limitation to cast fishing in heavy cover is keeping theoffering in a desired zone for an extended period required to entice astrike. Most top water lures are pulled, swum, or popped through cover,over lily pads, etc. requiring repeated casts to a same zone before afish will finally strike. Many times such repeated commotion puts thefish down after the first few casts.

Therefore, what is clearly needed is a fishing lure and method forfishing that solves the problems mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the invention a fishing lure imitating a bird isprovided, comprising a substantially cylindrical, flexible hollow bodyhaving a central long axis, the body shape tapering from a common largerdiameter to a substantially smaller diameter at a front end and having arounded rear end, the cylindrical body implemented to exhibitsubstantially equal longitudinal buoyancy, causing the body whenfloating on a water surface to float with the long axis substantiallyparallel with the surface in an orientation defining a body top, a bodybottom, a height from top to bottom, a length, a left side facing front,and a right side facing front, the buoyancy providing a water line, aset of two simulated eyes, one eye positioned on the left side of thebody toward the front end, another eye positioned on the right side ofthe body directly opposite the one eye, a first group of buoyant firstflexible strands each joined at one end to the left side of the body ata common point rearward of the eyes, the first flexible strandsextending outward from the body to the left side, such that with thebody floating with the long axis parallel to the water surface, some ofthe first strands angle forward, some are substantially at a right angleto the long axis, and some angle rearward, and length of the firststrands extending from the body are progressively shorter from front toback, such that the first strands floating next to the body simulate anextended bird wing to the left side, a second group of buoyant secondflexible strands each joined at one end to the right side of the body ata common point rearward of the eyes, directly opposite the first groupof first flexible strands, the second strands extending outward from thebody to the right side, such that with the body floating with the longaxis parallel to the water surface, some of the second strands angleforward, some are substantially at a right angle to the long axis, andsome angle rearward, and length of the second strands extending from thebody are progressively shorter from front to back, such that the secondstrands floating next to the body simulate an extended bird wing to theright side, as a mirror image of the simulated bird wing to the leftside, and a hook element disposed longitudinally through the cylindricalbody, the hook element having an eyelet extending outward through anopening from the front end of the body below the water line, a shankextending rearward in the body along the long axis, the shank exitingthe body through an opening below the waterline in an upward facinglengthwise recess, then bending forward to present a hook point facingin a forward direction, the point concealed in the recess and positionedat a point along the length rearward of the simulated wings.

In one embodiment the cylindrical body is hollow and molded from apolyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based or rubber-based compound to form a softbut resilient lure body. Also in one embodiment the tapered front end isreinforced to secure the front end of the hook assembly. Also in oneembodiment the first and second flexible strands have a rigidity lowenough that with the body suspended in air the strands droop downward,and high enough that with the body floating on the surface the strandsfan out straight on the surface from the joining point. Still in oneembodiment the buoyant flexible strands are annular, hollow, siliconrubber strands or rectangular, hollow, silicon rubber strands.

In one embodiment the hook element separates to two second shanks fromthe single shank, each second shank exiting the body in parallellengthwise recesses ending in points facing forward and concealed in theparallel recesses. In one embodiment the lure further comprisessimulated bird legs and feet extending from beneath the body. Also inone embodiment the groupings of buoyant flexible strands each passthrough an opening in the body at points below the water line, and aresecured within the body by knots or clamping elements larger than theopenings through which the groupings of strands pass at each joiningpoint to the body.

In one embodiment the lure further comprises a third and a fourth groupof buoyant flexible strands joined to the body at opposite points on theleft and right sides of the body rearward of the joining points of thefirst and second groups of flexible strands, wherein the flexiblestrands in each of the third and fourth groups extend outward from thebody on each side, such that with the body floating with the long axisparallel to the water surface, some of the third and fourth strandsangle forward, some are substantially at a right angle to the long axis,and some angle rearward, and length of the third and fourth strandsextending from the body are progressively shorter from front to rear,and the average length of the strands in the third and fourth groups isless than the average length of strands in the first and second groups.

In one embodiment the lure further comprises a fifth and sixth group ofbuoyant flexible strands joined to the body at opposite points on theleft and right sides of the body rearward of the joining points of thethird and fourth groups of flexible strands, wherein the flexiblestrands in each of the fifth and sixth groups extend outward from thebody on each side, such that with the body floating with the long axisparallel to the water surface, some of the fifth and sixth strands angleforward, some are substantially at a right angle to the long axis, andsome angle rearward, and length of the fifth and sixth strands extendingfrom the body are progressively shorter from front to rear, and theaverage length of the strands in the fifth and sixth groups is less thanthe average length of strands in the third and fourth groups.

Also in one embodiment the lure further comprises a seventh and eighthgroup of buoyant flexible strands joined to the body at opposite pointson the left and right sides of the body rearward of the joining pointsof the fifth and sixth groups of flexible strands, wherein the flexiblestrands in each of the seventh and eighth groups extend outward from thebody on each side, such that with the body floating with the long axisparallel to the water surface, some of the seventh and eighth strandsangle forward, some are substantially at a right angle to the long axis,and some angle rearward, and length of the seventh and eighth strandsextending from the body are progressively shorter from front to rear,and the average length of the strands in the seventh and eighth groupsis less than the average length of strands in the fifth and sixthgroups.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a fishing lure according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the fishing lure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section view of the fishing lure of FIG. 1 viewed along thesection line AA in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the fishing lure according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an overhead view of the fishing lure of FIG. 1 depictingmotion on the surface of water.

FIG. 6 is a process flow chart illustrating steps for fishing the lureof FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a fishing lure with a right-side profile of thelure body according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the fishing lure of FIG. 7 with a left-sideprofile of the lure body.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the lure body of the fishing lure of FIG. 7showing a hook adapted to increase the unobstructed strike length of thelure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the hook of FIG. 9.

FIG. 10B is a perspective view of a cam configuration hook.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the lure body of the fishing lure of FIG. 7showing a straight shank treble hook implementation.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a single shank hook of the same designas the hook of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The inventor provides a fishing lure adapted in a preferred embodimentto imitate a bird, and that allows for snag-less operation in heavycover fishing and more presentation time in a desired strike zone. Thepresent invention is described in enabling detail using followingexamples, which may describe more than one relevant embodiment fallingwithin the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a fishing lure 100 according to anembodiment of the present invention. Fishing lure 100 is adapted in thisexample to imitate a live bird that has fallen in water. However theexample of a bird imitation should not be construed as a limitation ofthe invention. Other characterizations for lure 100 are possible and maybe considered according to one or more embodiments of the presentinvention. The inventor chooses to represent a bird in a preferredembodiment because of its position as a natural prey for certainpredator species of game fish. In one embodiment of the invention, adragonfly, bat, mosquito or any other flying prey which a fish eats maybe imitated without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

Fishing lure 100 includes a cylindrical body 101 having a conical frontend and a rounded rear end. Body 101 may be injection molded from aflexible but resilient rubber or polymer-based compound or compositelike Neoprene, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) based material, or a similarcomposite. Body 101 in one embodiment is molded in the form of a birdbody wherein the conical end represents the bird's beak and the roundedend, the bird's rear parts. In one embodiment, the molding process usedis a Rotoblast™ process used in rotational molding known to andavailable to the inventor.

In a preferred embodiment, body 101 is a hollow body whereby certainportions are reinforced by allowing greater material thickness to formin the specified areas. In one embodiment, thickening the mold materialsimmediately around the conical shape that represents the bird's beakreinforces the conical end of cylindrical body 101. Body 101 may also bereinforced in other areas supporting various features of the lure. Inone embodiment, cylindrical body 101 is a solid body (not hollow). Inthis embodiment, the body might be formed of a porous buoyant materialsuch as foam that cures and can be used in a molding process as aninjection molding material.

In one embodiment, Body 101 is textured on the outer surface 108 of body101. Texturing 108 may be achieved in part by indentations and orprotrusions made in the surface of the mold cavity used to form body101. In one embodiment, the material used to mold body 101 isimpregnated with fibrous polymer or other heat resistant fibrousmaterials to improve resiliency and to simulate texture such as birdfeathers or down. In this example, fishing lure 100 includes a pair ofbird's eyes 109. Bird's eyes 109 may include eyelids and a falseeyeball. These features may be molded into the body or applied after thebody is molded without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention. In one embodiment, lure body 101 includes coloredsections and or patterns that mimic a bird's variation in natural colorpattern. One such section is illustrated herein by under section 104representing the bird's typically lighter underside. Stripes, bars, andother colored sections may also be incorporated to mimic natural colorvariations in a bird without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

In a preferred embodiment, lure 100 floats indefinitely and buoyancy iscontrolled along cylindrical body 101 in the molding process to providesubstantially equal buoyancy at both the conical and rear ends of body101 so that the lure does not list while afloat and so that it moveslaterally across the water when pulled without diving beneath or risingup out of the water. Equilateral buoyancy across the length of body 101is accomplished through an empirical method of calculating weights ofvarious features of the lure and hook assembly and refining the moldcavity to enable appropriate distribution of materials accordingly, sothat air pockets residing within the lure body in the hollow embodimentare sized to result in the equilateral buoyancy.

Fishing lure 100 includes, in this example, a pair of bird wings 105(one each side) and a bird tail 106. Bird wings 105 are characterized byone or more grouping of flexible, yet resilient strands of rubber orsimilar buoyant material. In this example, there are four groupings ofstrands on each side of lure body 101. Each grouping of strands is heldto a unique protrusion length from the lure body so that simulation ofan outstretched wing is achieved when the lure is floating on water.

In one example, the strands are annular and hollow to aid buoyancy. Inanother example, the strands are rectangular and hollow to aid buoyancy.In a preferred embodiment, each strand is geometrically similar to otherstrands in the grouping; however geometric mixes may be used withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Tail 106in one embodiment is a single grouping of flexible but resilient strandsthat may be of the same likeness including geometry as those making upwings 105. In this view, the hook assembly is not entirely visible andis described in more detail later in this specification relative to FIG.3 in section view. However, the assembly includes at least one hook 107and eyelet 103 adapted to accept fishing line. Further the tail 106could be comprised of yarn, string, feathers, or any other syntheticmaterial that floats and is formulated to be flexible and rigid enoughto return to the original shape.

In this elevation view, wings 105 and tail 106 are flexible enough tohang down when lure 100 is not floating on water, but resilient enoughto assume a lateral position when the lure is floating on water. Theweights of wings 105 are held consistent on either side of lure body 101to prevent listing and to prevent any unwanted drift during casting orpitching into heavy cover, which requires considerable accuracy. Theflexibility of the wing strands is controlled such that the strands willform close to the lure body during casting, eliminating drag from thewings. The wings could be comprised of yarn, string, feathers, or anyother synthetic material that floats and is formulated to be flexibleand rigid enough to return to the original shape.

FIG. 2 is a top view of fishing lure 100 of FIG. 1. Fishing lure 100 isviewed from overhead in this example and outstretched wings 105 and tail106 are illustrated in at rest position as if the lure body werefloating on a body of water. Tail 106 fans out and is buoyant simulatinga V-shape bird's tail. Wings 105 fan out and are buoyant simulatingoutstretched bird wings. The overall lengths of each grouping of strandsare ordered in such a manner that grouping of strands provide thesilhouette of outstretched wings in a realistic manner.

Cylindrical body 101 includes hook recesses 200 formed into the bodyduring the molding process. Recesses 200 are symmetrically disposed ontop of and toward the rear of lure body 101 and are adapted to concealhook points 201 of hook 107. In this example, hook 107 is a double hookfeaturing two hook points 201 requiring two recesses 200. Hook points201 may be barbed or barbless. In an embodiment where hook points 201are barbed the barbs may reside on the outside of the hook bend or onthe inside of the hook bend.

In a preferred embodiment, the hook bends of the double hook protrudefrom the underside of the cylindrical body near the rear thereof, thebends substantially conforming about the rear end of the cylindricalbody toward the upper surface, the hook points thereof pointing towardthe front of the cylindrical body and resting in recesses provided inthe upper surface of the cylindrical body

In another example, hook 107 may be a single hook with one hook pointand one recess disposed centrally on top of body 101. The resiliency oflure body 101 is such that it is stiff enough to prevent exposure of thehook points from recesses 200 unless suitable force from a striking fishis applied. In this way, hook point exposure is greatly reduced duringlure movement and retrieval from typical soft-body imitations that floator sink. In one embodiment, wire or stiff fiber snag guards may beincorporated into the hook design, however such apparatus may reduce thepotential number of hook-ups with fish while using lure 100.

FIG. 3 is a section view of fishing lure 100 of FIG. 1 viewed along thesection line AA in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. Lure 100 includes a hook assembly as mentioned further aboveand that is visible in this sectioned overhead view. The hook assemblyincludes a shank 300 with a gapped eyelet 301 disposed at the rear ofthe shank. Eyelet 103 is disposed at the end opposite eyelet 301. Shank300 connects to hook 107 at a hook eyelet 302.

In this example, hook 107 exits or protrudes from lure body 101 at ageneral egress area 303 on the bottom surface of the lure body forwardfrom tail feature 106. The hook bends and points are cut off in thissectioned view and are not visible in this view. The portions of hook107 that are on the outside of lure body 101 are illustrated with abroken boundary. In this example, hook 107 and shank 300 form a jointedhook assembly that may be inserted or assembled into lure body 101 afterthe molding process. Egress area 303 may or may not be reinforced withthicker material during the molding process. Reinforcement for specificareas of lure body 101 may be provided in ways other than thickening thematerial at the targeted area. Other ways to reinforce portions of thecylindrical body include adding reinforcing materials to the lure afterthe molding process using glue or other attachment methods.

Wings 105 are disposed transversely through openings in the walls oflure body 105 and are secured in place by knots 304 tied in theindividual groupings of flexible strands. In this example the strandsare grouped into eight groupings. Knots 304 serve as stops preventingunintended pullout of the wing components from the lure body, therebyreinforcing the wing feature of lure 100. The openings within the lurebody are kept much smaller than the diameter of the knots, but canstretch according to material properties to accommodate the knots whenthe lure is assembled.

In one embodiment, wings 105 may further be secured by knots tied intothe strand groupings that are strategically disposed to abut against theouter surface of the bird lure as an extra positioning measure toprevent wings 105 from encroaching into the interior of body 101 in thehollow embodiment. In one embodiment, wings 105 are contiguous with wingtips formed at both ends of a grouping of strands. In this embodiment,the strands are disposed contiguously through the lure body, each singlestrand forming two opposing wing tips.

Tail 106 is secured to body 101 via a knot 305 disposed strategicallynear one end of the tail strands. An opening is provided through body101 where tail 106 is installed, the opening held much smaller than theknot but able to accommodate insertion of the knot through the wall ofthe body via the stretch property of the lure body. Once the knot isinserted, the opening encloses around the knot preventing pull out ofthe tail feature. In a preferred embodiment, wings 105 do not connectthrough the cylindrical body, and are installed in similar fashion astail 106. In this embodiment, there may also be knots disposedexternally to the lure body to prevent the wing from encroaching intothe interior of the lure body.

Section line AA of FIG. 1 may generally represent a water line when lure100 is floating. It is important to note herein that in a preferredembodiment, there are no protrusions or openings on the lure body thatsit at or above the waterline when the lure is floating. In this way,the lure retains trapped air and floats indefinitely.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of fishing lure 100 according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention. In this example, fishing lure 100further includes a feature 401 that simulates bird legs. Bird legs 401may be fashioned with stiff fibers grouped and tied for insertionthrough the underside of cylindrical body 101. In other embodiments,other simulation methods may be employed to simulate bird legs and feet.In one embodiment, bird legs are simply painted, drawn, or otherwisedepicted on the outer surface of body 101 at an area on the underside oflure 100 where it would be expected to see bird legs.

FIG. 5 is an overhead view of fishing lure 100 of FIG. 1 depictingmotion on the surface of water. Fishing lure 100 may float in oneposition on a body of water for an indefinite period once cast orpitched into a target strike zone. The silhouette of wings 105 providesan underwater view of outstretched wings. Similarly, tail 106 providesan underwater view of an outstretched bird tail fanned out in the water.

A slight twitch of fishing lure 100 while at rest on water produces aflux in wings 105 simulating that the bird is alive, but incapacitatedand unable to fly or escape. Another feature of operation of lure 100 isthat when a fisherman pulls or “twitches” fishing lure 100 forward by apull in the direction of the arrow labeled pull, wings 105 flex rearwardwith the force of the pull as illustrated by the broken directionalarrows immediately behind wings 105. The wings resume their originalposition in the water when the pull force is terminated followed byslack in the fishing line, creating a drag force represented herein by adirectional arrow labeled drag. This motion follows the principal thatfor every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The dragcreated by the resiliency of the flexible strands of the wings helps tokeep fishing lure 100 in the same general location of the originaltargeted strike zone that the lure was tossed into on the first cast. Inthis way, the lure may be fished extensively in heavy cover with aprovision of more time in the strike zone.

Retrieval of fishing lure 100 may be necessary only to redeploy the lureto another possible strike zone identified in heavy cover. Anotherfeature enabled by the flexibility of wings 105 is further protectionagainst snags during lure retrieval. Lure retrieval induces a rearwardflex in wings 105 in the direction of the broken arrows. While wings 105are in a rearward flexed position, they provide further “weed” guardagainst snagging the lure against floating debris or grounded cover.This same flexibility also offers a straight and unwavering pitch orcast of lure 100 into a strike zone.

FIG. 6 is a process flow chart 600 illustrating steps for fishing lure100 of FIG. 1. At step 601, a fisherman ties the fishing lure analogousto lure 100 of FIG. 1 to a fishing line. In one embodiment, the fishingline is connected to a fishing reel on a fishing rod. In an alternateembodiment, the fishing line may be connected to a still fishing canepole. At step 602, the lure is cast or pitched into a target strikezone. A strike zone may be a hole in a blanket of lily pads or a spot ofwater under a shade tree where the fisherman expects a strike ispossible.

At step 603, the fisherman attempts to elicit a strike by twitching thelure in place. This is done to simulate a bird that has fallen into thewater. At step 604, the fisherman pauses to provide a window for astrike that might result from the twitching action. At step 605, thefisherman makes a determination of whether there has been a strike onthe lure.

At step 605, if a strike is detected, the fisherman sets the hook atstep 606 and reels in the fish. The process may then resolve back tostep 602 where the fisherman casts or pitches the lure into anothertargeted strike zone, typically along heavy cover. If the fisherman doesnot detect a strike at step 605, the process resolves back to step 603where the fisherman resumes twitching the lure. Step 603 and step 604may be repeated in succession many times before the fisherman ultimatelycatches a fish decides to retrieve the lure for another cast.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a fishing lure 700 with a right-side profile ofthe lure body according to another embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 8 is a bottom view of fishing lure 700 of FIG. 7 with a left-sideprofile of the lure body. Referring now to FIG. 7, fishing lure 700 isadapted to imitate a bird as described further above with respect tofishing lure 100. In this example, the wings and tail are represented bybroken boundaries in the general displayed shapes of those appendageswhile the lure is floating on a body of water.

Lure 700 includes a buoyant lure body 701 that may be manufactured inthe same fashion as described for lure 100. In this example however,lure body 701 is formed in a symmetrical manner with respect to themolding process in such a way as to provide the same body profile forthe top, bottom and side views of the lure. In this top view, the eyesare visible. Also in this example, lure 700 includes a hook 801. Hook801 is a single wire hook formed about the eye with equal lengths ofremaining wire to form the rest of the hook. In this view (top) the hookpoints are visible. A representative right side view of lure 700(reduced in size to save drawing space) is depicted to communicate thatthe profile of the side of the lure is identical in shape to the profileof the top of the lure.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the bottom view of lure 700 is depicted. Asdescribed further above, the wings and tail are represented by brokenboundaries in the general shape of those appendages when the lure isfloating on a body of water. Body 701 as seen from underneath the lurehas an identical profile as the top of the lure. Hook 801 is visible atthe split and bends of the hook. The eyes are not visible and arerepresented here by broken boundaries. In one embodiment, the eyes maybe placed both on the top of lure 700 and on the bottom of lure 700 sothat there are two pairs of eyes symmetrically opposed. A representativeleft side view of lure 700 (reduced in size to save drawing space) isdepicted to communicate that the profile of the left side of the lure(upside down) is identical in shape to the profile of the bottom, top,and right side profile of the lure. Maintaining a consistent symmetrywith respect to shape at 360 degree views about the lure bodyorientation provides the same view to a predator fish regardless of howthe lure lands in a body of water when cast.

FIG. 9 is an elevation view of lure body 701 of the fishing lure of FIG.7 depicting hook 801 adapted to increase the unobstructed strike lengthof the lure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Lurebody 701 is seen in right side elevation in this example. The shapeprofile of body 701 is consistent regardless of view angle. Hook 801 isa double hook in this example. Hook 801 may be manufactured of suitablewire available in hook manufacturing. Hook 801 may be formed using handoperated tools such as a jig and press. Hook 801 is made of a singlelength of contiguous hook wire formed about a dowel to make the hook eyewith relatively equal lengths of the wire reserved for forming the hookshank, bends, and points.

In this example, hook 801 (side profile) has a bend 802 located at orabout the eye of fishing lure 701 when properly positioned therein. Bend802 follows a relative straight portion from the hook eye and progressesdownward toward the bottom inside surface of lure body 701, the bendbeginning just past the bird eye in this example.

The purpose of bending the hook closer to the hook eye is to allow thecontoured portion of the hook to lie along the natural contour of thebottom inside surface of the lure body and anterior portion of lure body701. This unique adaptation enables a much longer unobstructed strikespace for a predator fish to bite down on the soft body without beingobstructed by any part of the hook including the hook shank. Theestimated obstruction free bite or strike length is dimension A and isroughly measured from the hook points out to a point along the hookshank behind bend 802 where it may be considered that a bite at thestated point might be obstructed by the fish contacting the hook shankbehind the bend before being hooked. The maximum hook gap B becomesgradually less along length A to the point where the probability ofinconsistent hookup because of a smaller hook gap increasessignificantly. Additionally it is known to the inventor that if a largebass or other predator fish bites and feels the hard material of thehook shank the bass will typically spit the lure out. The bending of thelure shank to follow the contour of the bottom of the lure significantlyincreases the sweet spot bite area of the lure.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the hook of FIG. 9. Hook 801 isfashioned from a single contiguous piece of hook wire. Bend 802significantly lengthens the strike distance represented above bydistance A where the hook gap is still large enough to provideconsistent hookup. Hook 801 may be formed about pin, dowel, or any othermethod of hook manufacture, forming hook eye 803. The wire is bentaround the eye and directed downward adjacently toward the split in hook801 that forms the adjacent hook bends 804. To keep the hook fromseparating, the wire may be brazed together along the shank.

FIG. 10B is a perspective view of a cam action hook. In this embodimentwhen eyelet 903 is pulled, interconnecting member 901 causes movementthrough the connections in the hook which causes hook points 902 to movein an upward direction because of the bend in member 901. In thisembodiment the movement of the hook points in an upward direction whenpulled increases the likelihood of hooking a fish.

The contour of the hook past bend 802 is adapted to conformsignificantly to the contour of the lure body until the hook egressesthe body of the lure where the hook tangs arc about the rear portion ofthe lure body, the hook points facing forward and protected, in someembodiments, by recesses formed in the soft lure body. In one embodimentwhere recesses are provided to protect the hook from hook pointexposure, the recesses are the only feature, except perhaps the birdeyes and coloring or markings, if any, that distinguishes the top of thelure from the bottom of the lure.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of lure body 700 of FIG. 7 showing astraight-shank treble hook implementation. In this view, lure body 700hosts a treble hook 1101 having a straight shank.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a single shank hook 1201 in the samedesign as double-shank hook 801 of FIG. 9. Hook 1201 has the same shapeof hook 801 but is a single hook implementation. When implemented in thelure body, the hook may face up with the barb out of water, or down withthe barb under the water line.

It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the fishing lureand method of the invention may be provided using some or all of thementioned features and components without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention. It will also be apparent to the skilledartisan that the embodiments described above are specific examples of asingle broader invention that may have greater scope than any of thesingular descriptions taught. There may be many alterations made in thedescriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fishing lure imitating a bird comprising: asubstantially cylindrical, flexible hollow body having a central longaxis, the body shape tapering from a common larger diameter to asubstantially smaller diameter at a front end and having a rounded rearend, the cylindrical body implemented to exhibit substantially equallongitudinal buoyancy, causing the body when floating on a water surfaceto float with the long axis substantially parallel with the surface inan orientation defining a body top, a body bottom, a height from top tobottom, a length, a left side facing front, and a right side facingfront, the buoyancy providing a water line; a set of two simulated eyes,one eye positioned on the left side of the body toward the front end,another eye positioned on the right side of the body directly oppositethe one eye; a first group of buoyant first flexible strands each joinedat one end to the left side of the body at a common point rearward ofthe eyes, the first flexible strands extending outward from the body tothe left side, such that with the body floating with the long axisparallel to the water surface, some of the first strands angle forward,some are substantially at a right angle to the long axis, and some anglerearward, and length of the first strands extending from the body areprogressively shorter from front to back, such that the first strandsfloating next to the body simulate an extended bird wing to the leftside; a second group of buoyant second flexible strands each joined atone end to the right side of the body at a common point rearward of theeyes, directly opposite the first group of first flexible strands, thesecond strands extending outward from the body to the right side, suchthat with the body floating with the long axis parallel to the watersurface, some of the second strands angle forward, some aresubstantially at a right angle to the long axis, and some anglerearward, and length of the second strands extending from the body areprogressively shorter from front to back, such that the second strandsfloating next to the body simulate an extended bird wing to the rightside, as a minor image of the simulated bird wing to the left side; anda hook element disposed longitudinally through the cylindrical body, thehook element having an eyelet extending outward through an opening fromthe front end of the body below the water line, a shank extendingrearward in the body along the long axis, the shank exiting the bodythrough an opening below the waterline in an upward facing lengthwiserecess, then bending forward to present a hook point facing in a forwarddirection, the point concealed in the recess and positioned at a pointalong the length rearward of the simulated wings.
 2. The fishing lure ofclaim 1, wherein the cylindrical body is hollow and molded from apolyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based or rubber-based compound to form a softbut resilient lure body.
 3. The fishing lure of claim 1, wherein thetapered front end is reinforced to secure the front end of the hookassembly.
 4. The fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the first and secondflexible strands have a rigidity low enough that with the body suspendedin air the strands droop downward, and high enough that with the bodyfloating on the surface the strands fan out straight on the surface fromthe joining point.
 5. The fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the buoyantflexible strands are annular, hollow, silicon rubber strands orrectangular, hollow, silicon rubber strands.
 6. The fishing lure ofclaim 1, wherein the hook element separates to two second shanks fromthe single shank, each second shank exiting the body in parallellengthwise recesses ending in points facing forward and concealed in theparallel recesses.
 7. The fishing lure of claim 1 further comprisingsimulated bird legs and feet extending from beneath the body.
 8. Thefishing lure of claim 2, wherein the groupings of buoyant flexiblestrands each pass through an opening in the body at points below thewater line, and are secured within the body by knots or clampingelements larger than the openings through which the groupings of strandspass at each joining point to the body.
 9. The fishing lure of claim 1,further comprising a third and a fourth group of buoyant flexiblestrands joined to the body at opposite points on the left and rightsides of the body rearward of the joining points of the first and secondgroups of flexible strands, wherein the flexible strands in each of thethird and fourth groups extend outward from the body on each side, suchthat with the body floating with the long axis parallel to the watersurface, some of the third and fourth strands angle forward, some aresubstantially at a right angle to the long axis, and some anglerearward, and length of the third and fourth strands extending from thebody are progressively shorter from front to rear, and the averagelength of the strands in the third and fourth groups is less than theaverage length of strands in the first and second groups.
 10. Thefishing lure of claim 9 further comprising a fifth and sixth group ofbuoyant flexible strands joined to the body at opposite points on theleft and right sides of the body rearward of the joining points of thethird and fourth groups of flexible strands, wherein the flexiblestrands in each of the fifth and sixth groups extend outward from thebody on each side, such that with the body floating with the long axisparallel to the water surface, some of the fifth and sixth strands angleforward, some are substantially at a right angle to the long axis, andsome angle rearward, and length of the fifth and sixth strands extendingfrom the body are progressively shorter from front to rear, and theaverage length of the strands in the fifth and sixth groups is less thanthe average length of strands in the third and fourth groups.
 11. Thefishing lure of claim 10 further comprising a seventh and eighth groupof buoyant flexible strands joined to the body at opposite points on theleft and right sides of the body rearward of the joining points of thefifth and sixth groups of flexible strands, wherein the flexible strandsin each of the seventh and eighth groups extend outward from the body oneach side, such that with the body floating with the long axis parallelto the water surface, some of the seventh and eighth strands angleforward, some are substantially at a right angle to the long axis, andsome angle rearward, and length of the seventh and eighth strandsextending from the body are progressively shorter from front to rear,and the average length of the strands in the seventh and eighth groupsis less than the average length of strands in the fifth and sixthgroups.